Iowa

Iowans marked the tenth anniversary of 9-11 at an event cosponored by AFSC and organized by the Interfaith Alliance at Drake University. Speakers included representatives from a number of faith traditions, Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, and Drake University President David Maxwell. Thanks to videographer Rodger Routh for this piece.

Trust instead of fear. Generosity in lieu of greed. Compassion and community rather than vengeance and isolation. According to Des Moines author and healer Geral Blanchard, these are some of the timeless values which many indigenous and traditional cultures use to live peacefully and happily.

Phyllis Bennis http://www.ips-dc.org/staff/phyllis is a fellow at boththe Transnational Institute and the Institute for Policy Studies inWashington DC, where she directs the New Internationalism Project.Bennis worked as a journalist at the UN for ten years and currently serves as a special adviser to several top-level UN officials on Middle East issues. World Affairs Series. She is also the author of Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer; coauthor of Ending the U.S.

Originally from Kenya, Lydia Kirior served her MSW practicum internship this summer with AFSC Iowa. Lydia has a bachelor's degree in social and religiuos studies and hopes to "educate myself and go back home to work for social change and fight for justice in my community."

During her time at AFSC, Lydia helped organize this public forum on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

A cool building, tasty ice cream and good work brought 75 Iowans together on August 24th for the second annual Friends House Ice Cream Social in Des Moines. This year's gathering featured this video about the work of the tenants of the building as well as tours of Friends House, home to AFSC's Central Regional office since 1953.

Noted author, economist and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich will address the topic, "The Next Economy and America's Future" at this Des Moines talk. Reich currently teaches at Cal-Berkeley. Free and open to the public. A book-signing will follow the talk.

All are welcome to attend a greater Des Moines Interfaith Service commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the September 11.

The theme of the service is “Common Ground” and will highlight a contribution from each faith community.

The collaborative partners include the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Des Moines Area Religious Council, the Des Moines Ecumenical Peace Committee and the American Friends Service Committee as well as faith leaders from Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, Sikh, Buddhist, and other faith communities.

Who we are

AFSC is a Quaker organization devoted to service, development, and peace programs throughout the world. Our work is based on the belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. Learn more

Where we work

AFSC has offices around the world. To see a complete list see the Where We Work page.